An explanation of An explanation of Formal CommandsFormal Commands in Spanish in Spanish

Commands in English…Commands in English…

… are pretty easy. You just use a base verb form (without a subject, since it’s always “you”) to tell people what they should do:– Stand up!

– Sit down!

– Do your homework!

– Take out the garbage!

– Be quiet!

Commands in Spanish…Commands in Spanish…

… are little more complicated because we have so many ways of saying “you”:– Tú: informal, singular– Vosotros: informal, plural– Ud.: formal, singular– Uds.: formal, plural

• However, we will concentrate on the formal commands only.

HableHable despacio, por favor. despacio, por favor.

• The speaker is talking to one person.

• Can you figure out how we got the form “hable”?

• Take the “yo” form of the present: HABLO

• Drop the –o: HABL-

• “Hablar” is an –AR verb, so add –E to form the command: HABLE

-AR verbs

RepitaRepita, por favor., por favor.

• The speaker is talking to one person.

• Can you figure out how we got the form “repita”?

• Take the “yo” form of the present: REPITO

• Drop the –o: REPIT-

• “Repetir” is an –IR verb, so add –A to form the command: REPITA

-ER/-IR Verbs

OppositeOpposite vowels vowels

• Think of the verb adding the

“opposite vowel”

• ARAR verbs add an –E.

• ER & IRER & IR verbs add an –A.

Let’s try a couple!Let’s try a couple!

• Comer: ¡______ Ud.!• Escribir: ¡_____ Ud.!• Tomar: ¡_____ Ud.!• Beber: ¡______ Ud.!

More thanMore than one person? one person? Uds…Uds…

• Coman Uds. la paella.

Right!

Just add an –N to the command form when you are talking to more than one person.

Let’s try a few more!Let’s try a few more!

• Comer: ¡______ Uds.!

• Escribir: ¡_____ Uds.!

• Tomar: ¡_____ Uds.!

Some irregulars…¿Qué Some irregulars…¿Qué pasa?pasa?

Haga la tarea. ~hacer=to do Hacer > yo hago > -o + -a

Tenga paciencia. ~tener=to haveTener > yo tengo > -o + -a

Salga ahora.~ salir=to leaveSalir > yo salgo > - o + -a

Vuelva a casa.~volver=to returnVolver > yo vuelvo > -o + -a

Piense bien.~pensar=to thinkPensar > yo pienso > -o + -e

These verbs follow the same formula: start with the yo form, drop the –o, and add the opposite vowel.

En la cocina, use the FORMAL SINGULAR COMMAND FORMS Usted

Cocinar- to cook, Cocine Medir-to measure, Mida

Agregar-to add, Agregue Freír-to fry, Fría

Hervir-to boil, Hierva Romper-to break, Rompa

Hornear-to bake, Hornee

Batir- to beat, Bata

Combinar-to combine/to blend, Combine

Mezclar-to mix, Mezcle

Picar-to chop, Pique

Cortar-to cut, Corte

Cubrir-to cover, Cubra

AhoraAhora, traduzcan usando los mandatos formales….

1.Blend a cup of milk! = __________________________

2. Beat two eggs! = __________________________

3. Boil three cups of water! = __________________________

4. Cut the chicken! = __________________________

5. Bake the cake! = __________________________